Spiders

Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms. Spiders are found worldwide on every continent except for Antarctica, and have become established in nearly every habitat with the exception of air and sea colonization. As of 2008, approximately 40,000 spider species, and 109 families have been recorded by taxonomists; however, there has been confusion within the scientific community as to how all these families should be classified, as evidenced by the over 20 different classifications that have been proposed since 1900.

Anatomically, spiders differ from other arthropods in that the usual body segments are fused into two tagmata, the cephalothorax and abdomen, and joined by a small, cylindrical pedicel. Unlike insects, spiders do not have antennae. In all except the most primitive group, the Mesothelae, spiders have the most centralized nervous systems of all arthropods, as all their ganglia are fused into one mass in the cephalothorax. Unlike most arthropods, spiders have no extensor muscles in their limbs and instead extend them by hydraulic pressure.

Damage: All spiders have some amount of venom with varying degrees of potency.
The most dangerous spiders in the USA are the black widow, the brown recluse and the hobo spider. If you suspect a bite is from one of the three get medical attention. If any bite worsens over a 24 hour period get medical attention.

Habitat: Spiders live in many different kinds of places, water, gardens, houses, and the ground. They live in hot and cold climates. They live in wet and dry enviroments. Some are poisonous and others are not.

Feeding and Breeding: Spiders eat insects and some other animals.

Treatment: Chemical and non chemical methods are used to control spiders.